US3422991A - Pellet dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Pellet dispensing apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3422991A
US3422991A US629804A US3422991DA US3422991A US 3422991 A US3422991 A US 3422991A US 629804 A US629804 A US 629804A US 3422991D A US3422991D A US 3422991DA US 3422991 A US3422991 A US 3422991A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
pellet
column
pellets
stack
head
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US629804A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ian Campbell Macdougall
John Logan Taylor
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Allied Ironfounders Ltd
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Allied Ironfounders Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Allied Ironfounders Ltd filed Critical Allied Ironfounders Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3422991A publication Critical patent/US3422991A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G1/00—Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines
    • B65G1/02—Storage devices
    • B65G1/04—Storage devices mechanical
    • B65G1/06—Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level
    • B65G1/07—Storage devices mechanical with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level the upper article of a pile being always presented at the same predetermined level
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J36/00—Parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels
    • A47J36/24—Warming devices
    • A47J36/2494—Warming devices using heat storage elements or materials, e.g. lava stones

Definitions

  • pellet means a heat accumulative disc or ring-like element maintained at a predetermined temeprature for use in hot-plates or containers, insulated or non-insulated, for stabilising the temperature of foodstufis to enable meals to be served in a fresh and palatable condition, for instance, in hospitals, hotels and other catering establishments.
  • Pellet dispensing apparatus already known basically includes a heated, vertically extending, hollow column for the reception of a stack of pellets, the stack being spring loaded towards the top of the column and means at the top of the column for individually dispensing pellets in succession from the stack into hot plates.
  • Such prior apparatus and, in particular, the means for dispensing the pellets individually has been complicated with consequent high production costs and difficulties in maintenance and replacement of worn components.
  • pellet dispensing apparatus including a vertical hollow column for the reception of a stack of pellets, resilient means in the column for urging the stack of pellets towards the top of the column and an ejector head pivotally mounted for movement in a horizontal plane so that in one position a recess in the underside of the head overlies the column and in another position the head is clear of the top of the column for recharging the column with pellets, the head having an opeining which communicates with the recess, through which opening the pellets may be ejected horizontally in succession by movement of the head from said one position to a further position in which the stack of pellets is retained within the column until the head is returned to said one position.
  • the recess is preferably defined by members downwardly projecting from the underside of said ejector head in the form of ribs, there being ribs of different depth so that the uppermost pellet in the stack is retained at the correct level for dispensing and, when the uppermost pellet is being dispensed, the next uppermost pellet is prevented from upward movement by other ribs until the recess has been returned to cover the column.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top of apparatus in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 with the ejector head in an alternative position;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line III-III of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line IVIV of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a part side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line VIVI of FIG. 2.
  • the pellet dispensing apparatus illustrated in the drawings includes a housing 1 within which is situated any known type of heating means, for example, electrical coils (not shown) which surround a hollow column 2 illustrated in FIG. 3.
  • This column 2 has a flange 3 near its upper end and bears against the underside of a base plate 4 which is attached to the top of the housing 1.
  • an insulation ring 5 Between the flange 3 and the underside of the top of the housing 1 is an insulation ring 5.
  • An ejector head 6 is pivotally mounted for movement in a horizontal plane by pivot shaft 7 carried by bearing assembly 8 and the ejector head 6 is provided with an operating handle 9.
  • the ejector head 6 has, on its underside, a recess 10 which is defined by deep ribs 11 and shallow ribs 12.
  • the recess 10 In one position of the ejector head 6 the recess 10 overlies the column 2 which receives a stack 13 of pellets. As will be seen from FIG. 3, the uppermost pellet 14 in the stack 13 lies within the recess 10 whereas the next uppermost pellet 15 in the stack 13 is held, by the uppermost pellet 14, with its upper surface level with the upper surface of base plate 4.
  • the ejector head 6 has an opening 16 which communicates with the recess 10 through which opening pellets may be dispensed in succession as described hereinafter.
  • the ejector head 6 is provided with two stops 17 and 18 and the base plate 4 is provided with a further stop 19. These three stops 17, 18 and 19 are located at equal distances from the axis of shaft 7 whereby, on rotation of the ejector head in a horizontal plane, the stops 17 and 18 may cont-act stop 19.
  • the stop 17, as clearly shown in FIG. 6, is capable of being manually raised against gravity to the position indicated in dotted lines at 20 so that the base part of the stop 17 is clear of the stop 19.
  • the stop 19 lies between stops 17 and 18 as indicated in FIG. 2.
  • the recess 10 overlies the stack 13 of pellets with the uppermost pellet 14 within the recess 10.
  • the ejector head 6 will rotate about shaft 7 until the stop 18 contacts stop 19. The rotation of ejector head 6 will then he suddenly interrupted and the momentum of the uppermost pellet 14 will cause this pellet 14 to be ejected through the opening 16 and into a hotplate or container which has been suitably positioned to receive the pellet.
  • the next uppermost pellet 15 will be held against any substantial upward movement by the provision of further ribs 22 on the underside of ejection head 6.
  • the ejector head is returned to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the next uppermost pellet 15 will be automatically moved into the recess 10 ready for dispensing.
  • the recess 10 may have an insulating pad therein for retaining the heat within the uppermost pellet.
  • the stack 13 of pellets rests, when in the column 2, on a loading platform 23 to which is fixed a sleeve 24 having at its lower end means which project therefrom in the form of a ferrule 25.
  • the loading platform and the sleeve 24 are urged vertically upwards by any form of resilient means which, in this embodiment, is a spring 26.
  • Fixed to the base of the housing 1 and extending vertically upwards therefrom is a cylindrical member 27 which comprises a thermostat with a protecting sleeve around it and this thermostat controls the temperature of the heating elements previously referred to.
  • a screw-threaded nipple 28 At the upper end of the cylindrical member 27 is a screw-threaded nipple 28 on which is screw-threaded a stop tube 29.
  • the engagement of the ferrule 25 with the bottom end of stop tube 29 limits the upward movement of the loading platform 23 so that when the stack 13 of pellets has been exhausted, the loading platform 23 itself does not enter the recess 10.
  • the screw-threaded engagement between the nipple 28 and the upper end of stop tube 29 gives a fine adjustment for the upward travel of the loading platform 23.
  • the apparatus may include several columns each with its own stack of pellets and each with its own ejector head.
  • Pellet dispensing apparatus including a housing, a vertically disposed hollow column for the reception of a stack of pellets within the housing and resilient means within the column for urging the stack of pellets towards the top of the column, the improvement comprising an ejector head pivotally mounted on the housing near to the top of the column for movement in a horizontal plane from one position of the head in which a recess in the underside of the head overlies the column to another position in which the head is clear of the top of the column for recharging the column with pellets, the said head having an opening which communicates with the said recess through which opening pellets may be ejected horizontally in succession by movement of the said head from said one position to a further position in which the stack of pellets are retained within the column until the head is returned to said one position, said recess being defined by a plurality of downwardly projecting members of dilferent depth on the underside of ejection head, whereby the uppermost pellet in the stack is retained by one of said members at the correct level
  • Pellet dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the improvement further comprises a screwthreaded nipple mounted at the upper end of said cylindrical member, said stop tube having a screw-threaded hole which receives, in screw-threaded engagement, the said nipple, whereby fine adjustment is provided for limiting the upward movement of said loading platform by rotating said stop tube on said nipple.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Container, Conveyance, Adherence, Positioning, Of Wafer (AREA)
  • De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
US629804A 1966-04-14 1967-04-10 Pellet dispensing apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3422991A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB16363/66A GB1131542A (en) 1966-04-14 1966-04-14 Improvements in or relating to pellet dispensing apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3422991A true US3422991A (en) 1969-01-21

Family

ID=10075968

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US629804A Expired - Lifetime US3422991A (en) 1966-04-14 1967-04-10 Pellet dispensing apparatus

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3422991A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT274279B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE696900A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH451442A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1531775A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1518538A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1131542A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IE (1) IE30960L (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6705215A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NO (1) NO119998B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE335600B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4589575A (en) * 1983-11-15 1986-05-20 Allan Rigberg Hygienic dispenser for wafers
US5178298A (en) * 1992-02-12 1993-01-12 Allina Curtis J Candy dispenser
US5785206A (en) * 1996-10-18 1998-07-28 Candy Novelty Works Ltd. Dispenser for candies or the like
FR2813294A1 (fr) * 2000-08-22 2002-03-01 Ergos Dispositif de distribution de pieces empilees a prise individuelle ergonomique
US10251518B2 (en) 2014-03-20 2019-04-09 Ecolab Usa Inc. Keyed dispensing cartridge with valve insert
US10569286B2 (en) 2017-05-08 2020-02-25 Ecolab Usa Inc. Shaped cartridge dispensing systems
US11484474B2 (en) * 2015-05-26 2022-11-01 Michel Poirier Portable medication dispenser

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US977583A (en) * 1909-08-04 1910-12-06 Harber C Beardsley Physician's tablet-holder.
US2705576A (en) * 1951-05-11 1955-04-05 Armand F Amelio Pill or tablet dispenser
US3055547A (en) * 1959-04-23 1962-09-25 Allied Ironfounders Ltd Apparatus for individually dispensing heat-accumulative elements

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US977583A (en) * 1909-08-04 1910-12-06 Harber C Beardsley Physician's tablet-holder.
US2705576A (en) * 1951-05-11 1955-04-05 Armand F Amelio Pill or tablet dispenser
US3055547A (en) * 1959-04-23 1962-09-25 Allied Ironfounders Ltd Apparatus for individually dispensing heat-accumulative elements

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4589575A (en) * 1983-11-15 1986-05-20 Allan Rigberg Hygienic dispenser for wafers
US5178298A (en) * 1992-02-12 1993-01-12 Allina Curtis J Candy dispenser
US5785206A (en) * 1996-10-18 1998-07-28 Candy Novelty Works Ltd. Dispenser for candies or the like
FR2813294A1 (fr) * 2000-08-22 2002-03-01 Ergos Dispositif de distribution de pieces empilees a prise individuelle ergonomique
US10251518B2 (en) 2014-03-20 2019-04-09 Ecolab Usa Inc. Keyed dispensing cartridge with valve insert
US11484474B2 (en) * 2015-05-26 2022-11-01 Michel Poirier Portable medication dispenser
US10569286B2 (en) 2017-05-08 2020-02-25 Ecolab Usa Inc. Shaped cartridge dispensing systems

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT274279B (de) 1969-09-10
BE696900A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1967-09-18
CH451442A (fr) 1968-05-15
GB1131542A (en) 1968-10-23
NL6705215A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1967-10-16
FR1518538A (fr) 1968-03-22
SE335600B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-06-01
IE30960L (en) 1967-10-14
NO119998B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-08-10
DE1531775A1 (de) 1969-08-21

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